Electrical-fixture-supporting device



Nov. 24, 1925.A

R, B. BENJAMIN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 20, 1921s@ Clfjys.

Patented Nov. 24, 1.925.

UNITED STATES 1,562,612 PATENT OFFICE.

.REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,- ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMINELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CYHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

ELEOTRICAL-FIXTURE-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

Application aied May 2o, 1921. serial No. 471,076.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatI I, SREUBEN B. BENJA- MIN. a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inElectrical-Fixture-Sup porting` Devices, of which the following is afull, clear` concise, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this specilication.

Y:My invention relates. to electrical ixture 'upporting devices, andconnections thereor. f Y

One of the objects of my inventionV is to provide an improved fixturesupporting (levice in which the fixture can be readily connec'ted anddisconnected with 'respect to the receptacle both electrically andmechani-V cally.

A urther 'object of'my invention isto 'provide such a device which willbe simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and durable and eiicientin use.

Further objects will appear vfrom the de taileddescription to follow andfrom the appended claim. Y

In .the drawings in wh ich an embodiment of my invention is shown- YFig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a {ixture, connecting vbracket andplug;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the lilne 2--2 of Fig. 1, showingalso areceptac e; A 1

Fig. 3 is a section'on the -line 3-3 of Fig. 1 the plug'however beingshown in elevation; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view necting bracket. A The construction shownin the drawings comprises a ixtupe 10 (the stem 11 and canof the conopy12 alone being shown) a receptacle 13,V

a plug-in device 14 for electrically connecting the a mechanicalconnectin member or bracket 15 (Fig. 4) for 'mechanlcally connecting thefixture with respect tothe receptacle.

. The plug-in' device 141s carried by the connecting .bracket 15, beingbodily slidably mounted thereon, to permit the-necessary lmovement ofthe connecting bracket 15 for making the mechanical connection withoutinterfering with the insertion of the contact blades 16 of the plug-indevice 14 into the fixture 10 with the receptacle 13, andV openingsprovidedtherefor in the receptacle 13. f A' The mechanical connectormember 15 is secured to a supporting plate 17 (which maybe a sort ofcover for the outlet box 18) b vmeansoi: a pair of screws 19 threadedinto the supporting plate 17, which screws engage' two key-hole slots 20and 21 in the .supporting bracket l5. The enlarged portions of thekey-hole slots `are large enough to permit the passage of the heads ofthe screws 19, thereduced portion of the slots being large enough toreceive the Shanks of the screws 19,' but suilicientlyV narrow toprevent the bracket 15 frombeing slipped oi over the heads of the screwswhen 1n.con

nected position. The connection between the connecting bracket 15 andthe supportmg plate 17 is ellected bv two movements, a

. first movement of the fixture, bracketl and plug 14 towards thereceptacle 13 to cause the heads of the screws 19 to enter the en`larged portions of the slots 20-and 21, and a second downward movementof the fixture 10, and bracket 15, to cause the 4narrow part of thekey-holeslots '2O and 21 to engage vthe A screws 19.--

The slidingconnection between the pluginV device 14 and the connectingbracket 15, hereinbefore referred to, permits the downwardmovement ofthe connecting bracket 15 Without linterference from thel engagement ofthe blades 16 in the opening receptacle 13'. The fixture 10 andconnectingbracket 15 are moved downwardly to etlect the mechanicalconnection, but the plug-in device 14 itself remains stationary duringthis downward movement of the bracket 15, the sliding engagement betweenthe plug-in device and bracket 15 permitting this relative movement. Thesliding connection of the plug-in device 14 with the,

connectingbracket 15 is effected by .meansA of a pair of lugs 22 and 23formed integral with the bracket 15, and a pair of vertically extendingstraps 24, the insulating base 25 ror the plug-in device 14 being heldbetween the lugs 22 and 23 on the one side, and the straps 24 on theother side. In order to prevent sidewise movement of the lug-in device14 on the bracket 15., the middle portion of the insulatingbase 25 ismade -to' extend in between fthe two vertically extending straps (asahown vin Fig. 3) and the of the insulta base 25 is provided with'notches 26 and for engagement with the lugs or tongues 22 and 23.

escutcheon 31 maybe secured in front cured to the canopy 12 of thefixture, andA the intermediate portions of which are secured to theconnecting bracket 15 by means of screws30..

A- suitable ornamentallinishing plate or supporting plate 17.

The wires 32' which supply current ,for the `in device 14 is ture.central opening 33 in the. et and la' meenemen .w thefbinding screws 34ihto-'the' contact. blades 16.

For electrically .and mechanically connect-v ing the xturewith respectto 'the receptacle 13, the entire device including thev fixture 10,-th econnecting bracket -15, and the plu;

presentedin position wit respect to the receptacle 13 using the-stem ebe.'

of the .extending toward each other from said cross 111.11081 t0' ringtheen- 1- The entire device is then ushed in to cause the blades 16 toenter t e recesses in the ryceptacle 13, and to cause the heads of thescrews 19 to pass through the key-holeopenings 20 and 21.` 4The xturelOand connectin bracket 15' is then shifted bodily downwar to cause theShanks of the screws 19 to engage in the narrowv key-hole slots 20 and-21'. e plug-in de-` vice 14, however, remaining statlonary 'during thisdownward movement of the xture 10 and connecting bracket 15. f -J Havingthus described my invention, what rtions of the I claimfas new anddesire to secure by Let- `ters Patent of the United States is v Amechanical :ndfelectricalconnector de- I vice, 'comprisingl a lfixturesupportingA bracklug slidably mounted on said bracket, said .bracketbeing formedv of vsheet 'material and havin"v two flat vertical barslying in a common p ane 1n front of thelug. v l and having' cross barsat-the topv andl ttom connecting thefvertical bars,'and lugs bars, saidplugbeingslidably mounted between the two vertical bars and the lugs,vsaid cross 4bars being Aprovided' with keyhole slots to-receive headedsupporting. and securing members.-

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub# scribed my name. j

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

